Pattern recognition with a non-detectable stencil on the touch-sensitive surface

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method of providing input to an electronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface that is configured for registering application of touch by a flexible unit and a toy comprising an electronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a structure; the structure configured from a material that cannot be registered by the touch-sensitive surface, and it comprises, either at the periphery or within the periphery, at least one marked position. One or more flexible units that comprise(s) material that can be registered by the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the one or more flexible units extend(s) past the top side of the structure and to the bottom side of the structure, to the effect that the registration of a flexible unit is conditioned by the configuration of the at least one marked position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/319,217, filed on Dec. 15, 2016; which is a U.S. National Stage ofInternational Application Number PCT/DK2015/050196, filed on Jul. 1,2015 and published on Jan. 7, 2016, as WO 2016/000720 A1; which claimsthe benefit of priority to Danish Patent Application Number PA 201470414, filed on Jul. 3, 2014. The content of each of the abovereferenced patent applications is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety for any purpose whatsoever.

The present invention relates to a method of providing input to anelectronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface that is configuredfor registering application of touch by a flexible unit and a toycomprising an electronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface and astructure.

BACKGROUND

A touch-sensitive screen, also designated a touch screen, comprises atouch-sensitive surface wherein, by means of a finger or a pointingdevice, one is capable of navigating on the unit, and wherein thetouch-sensitive surface is configured for being able to register afinger or a pointing device. That registration may be based on resistivetechnology that requires a lighter pressure on the surface, but theregistration may also be based on capacitive technology, whereby sensingin the form of a capacitive change, either by light touch or with nodirect application of touch to the capacitive screen, can be registered.Interactive, touch-sensitive surfaces are now getting very widespreadand are used eg on smartphones and tablet computers.

Toys are available where physical figures interact with suchtouch-sensitive, interactive screens, such as tablet computers. Thosephysical figures have built-in touch points whereby the touch-sensitive,interactive screen is capable of registering the physical figure which,via the software, is subsequently able to perform the programmed effectsby the presence of the physical figure. For instance, figures in theform of cars, animals or individuals are known, and when the figure islocated on a tablet, the figure has various capabilities on the screen.

However, in many cases it is desirable to increase the scope forvariation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method thatincreases the scope for variation available for play.

As set forth above, this is accomplished by the method comprising thefollowing steps: to provide a structure configured from a material thatcannot be registered by the touch-sensitive surface, and which structurehas a top side and a bottom side having an area that is smaller than thearea of the touch-sensitive surface, and wherein the area of the bottomside is delimited by an outer periphery on the structure, and whereinthe structure comprises, either at the periphery or within theperiphery, at least one marked position, which position is configuredwith a view to the deployment of a flexible unit; to provide one or moreflexible units that comprise(s) material that can be registered by thetouch-sensitive surface, wherein the one or more flexible unitsextend(s) past the top side of the structure and to the bottom side ofthe structure, to the effect that the registration of a flexible unit isconditioned by the configuration of the at least one marked position; todeploy the structure on the touch-sensitive surface; to deploy the oneor more flexible units in the at least one marked position such that thetouch-sensitive surface is capable of registering the position of theone or more flexible units.

Hereby an increased scope of variation is obtained for the interactionbetween a physical, three-dimensional structure and the virtual world.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises thefollowing step: to register the specific pattern that is formed bymarked positions with flexible units that are in contact with thetouch-sensitive surface.

Hereby the option is enabled to create, on one's own, completely uniquepatterns and hence to create new functions in the virtual world.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method furthercomprises the following steps: to move the one or more flexible unitsacross along the touch-sensitive surface whereby the structure followsthe movement across along the touch-sensitive surface; to recognize theregistered specific pattern; to register the movement of the specificpattern.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises toprovide a structure comprising at least two marked positions.

Hereby an increased scope for variation is accomplished in respect ofthe movement pattern on the touch-sensitive surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method furthercomprises to provide at least two structures.

Hereby further variation is obtained in the options available forcombination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises toprovide one or more flexible units wherein the one or more flexibleunits is/are constituted by one or more fingertips.

Hereby direct interaction is accomplished between the user, a physicalfigure/structure, and the virtual world.

According to a further aspect of the invention, it relates to a toycomprising an electronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface and astructure, characterised in that the structure is made of a materialthat cannot be registered by the touch-sensitive surface, and whichstructure has a top side and a bottom side having an area that issmaller than the area of the touch-sensitive surface, and wherein thearea of the bottom side is delimited by an outer periphery on thestructure, and wherein the structure comprises, either at the peripheryor within the periphery, at least one marked position, which position isconfigured with a view to the deployment of a flexible unit; and whereinthe electronic unit is configured to be able register application oftouch by a flexible unit, and wherein the registration of the flexibleunit on the touch-sensitive surface is conditioned by the configurationof the marked position, the flexible unit abutting on the top side ofthe structure and extending past the top side of the structure and tothe bottom side to the effect that the flexible unit is capable ofcoming into contact with the touch-sensitive surface.

Hereby increased scope for variation is obtained for registering andrecognizing specific input to an electronic unit and thereby forcreating new functions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the structure comprises atleast two marked positions. Hereby the option of a predefined specificpattern is provided.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the structure consists ofa toy building set that comprises at least two toy building blocks, eachof said toy building blocks being provided with one or morecomplementarily configured coupling means to the effect that the atleast two toy building blocks can be interconnected to form a structure,and that the at least one toy building element comprises one or moremarked positions for positioning of one or more flexible units.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more toybuilding elements comprise(s) at least two different types of couplingmeans, such as couplings studs and complementary coupling means

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one markedposition is constituted by one or more C- or U-shaped cut-outs and/orone or more through-going holes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more markedpositions for positioning of flexible units comprise(s) one or moreedges whereby the flexible units are prevented from moving relative tothe structure in a plane in parallel with the touch-sensitive surface tothe effect that, when one or more flexible units is/are moved acrossalong the touch-sensitive surface, the structure will follow themovement of the one or more flexible units.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more edgesis/are arranged as an inner delimitation to the effect that the flexibleunits are restricted/prevented from a movement in direction between thepositions, meaning that the flexible units squeeze against each other onthe edges of the positions whereby the structure follows the movement ofthe flexible units across along the touch-sensitive surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more edgesis/are located as an outer delimitation to the effect that the flexibleunits are restricted/prevented from a movement in direction away fromit/the remaining positions, meaning that the flexible units press awayfrom each other on the edges of the positions whereby the structurefollows the movement of the flexible units across along thetouch-sensitive surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more markedpositions for positioning of one or more flexible units comprise(s) anedge, wherein such edge is slanting to the effect that the one or moremarked positions is/are frusto-conically oriented with smallest radiusfacing downwards, whereby the one or more flexible units extend(s) pastthe top side of the structure and to the bottom side of the structurewhereby a flexible unit can abut on the slanting edge and come intocontact with the touch-sensitive surface through the small radius whenthe structure is deployed on the touch-sensitive surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one toybuilding element is a toy building plate.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one toybuilding element comprising one or more marked positions comprise(s) aflange comprising coupling means, wherein the flange is configured forcoupling with a toy building plate whereby the bottom side of the atleast one toy building element is in plane with the bottom side of thetoy building plate whereby they combine to form the bottom side of thestructure.

LIST OF FIGURES

An embodiment of the invention will now be explained in further detailwith reference to the drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure, in a perspective view, built from toybuilding elements comprising marked positions for positioning of twofingers on a touch-sensitive surface;

FIG. 2 illustrates a structure, in a perspective view, with a markedposition configured as a through-going hole for positioning of aflexible unit;

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure, seen from above, with a marked positionconfigured as a through-going hole for positioning of a flexible unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic unit;

FIG. 5 illustrates structures with varying specific patterns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE FIGURES

The present invention relates to a method of providing input to anelectronic unit 50 comprising a touch-sensitive surface 60 that isconfigured for registering application of touch by one or more flexibleunits 40, and a toy comprising an electronic unit 50 and a structure 1.

Touch applied to the touch-sensitive surface may be registered indifferent ways. The registration may be based on resistive technologythat requires a lighter pressure to the surface, but the registrationmay also be based on capacitive technology, whereby sensing in the formof a capacitive change, either by light touch or with no directapplication of touch to the capacitive screen, can be registered. Thetouch applied may thus be a physical contact or a capactive contact.

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure 1 built from toy building elements 5, 10,20, and a section of an electronic unit 50 comprising a touch-sensitivesurface 60.

An electronic unit 50 comprising a touch-sensitive surface 60 can be atablet having a pressure-sensitive and/or touch-sensitive screen,wherein, by means of a finger or a pointing device, one may navigate onthe unit. For instance, it may be a capacitive touch-screen thatresponds to a change in the capacitance of the screen surface.

The structure 1 is built from material that cannot itself be registeredby the touch-sensitive surface 60. Nor does the structure 1 have anymeans for activation of a touch-sensitive surface 60. Rather thestructure 1 comprises one or more marked positions for positioning offlexible units 40, wherein the flexible units 40 can be registered bythe touch-sensitive surface 60.

In FIG. 1, the flexible units 40 are illustrated as fingers to theeffect that the user's fingers can be positioned in two marked positionswhere the fingers extend from the top side of the structure to thebottom side of the structure, and that the fingers are thereby able tocome into contact with the touch-sensitive surface 60, or that thefingers are capable of coming close to the touch-sensitive surfacewhereby their positions can be registered.

The electronic unit 50 is configured for being able to register thespecific patterns that are formed by the flexible units 40 on thetouch-sensitive surface 60.

Thereby the flexible units 40, in the shown example the user's fingers,become the connecting link between the physical world and the virtualworld, the fingers' positions being defined by the physicalthree-dimensional structure 1, following which the electronic unitcomprising the touch-sensitive surface can register the fingers' mutualpositions and their movement across the touch-sensitive surface, wherebythe structure 1 and the electronic unit with the touch-sensitive surface60 are able to interact.

The structure 1, illustrated in FIG. 1, may be constructed from toybuilding elements, wherein the lower part of the structure comprises atoy building element in the form of a building plate 10, two toybuilding elements 20 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), where the two toybuilding elements 20 comprise marked positions 23 for positioning of twoflexible units 40, illustrated as the fingers of the user.

The structure comprises a toy building element 5 that can visuallyillustrate the properties of the structure in the virtual world.

A marked position 23 is to be understood as a position configured forpositioning of a flexible unit 40 that can be registered/recognized byan electronic unit 50 upon contact with the touch-sensitive surface 60.A marked position 23 can have many different configurations, see FIGS.5a, 5b, and 5c ; for example be in the shape of a C- or U-shaped cut-outand/or of through-going holes, either a smaller hole restricted suchthat only one flexible unit is able to touch the touch-sensitive surfacethrough the hole, or a larger hole providing space enough for severalflexible units to be able to come into contact with a touch-sensitivesurface. A marked position is arranged on/in the structure, either atthe periphery or within the periphery of the structure. A markedposition in the form of a hole thus comprises both circular and ovalshapes. A marked position may be marked with a particular colour, anarrow or other visual marking.

However, a capacitive sensing of a flexible unit does not require directapplication of touch to the touch-sensitive surface for registering theposition of the flexible unit on the touch-sensitive surface, but merelya registration of the presence of a flexible unit.

FIG. 5 shows three different configurations of a structure 1, whereinthe marked positions 23 combine to form variable, specific patterns.

FIG. 5a illustrates an embodiment wherein the structure 1 comprises twomarked positions 23, in the form of a quadrangle and a star,respectively. Those two marked positions are connected to each other bymeans of a hinge 80 and combine to form a recognizable, variable,specific pattern.

FIG. 5b illustrates an embodiment in which the structure 1 comprisesthree marked positions 23, as a U-shaped cut-out along the periphery ofthe element, a circular hole and a triangular position, respectively,wherein the triangular, marked position 23 is movable relative to thetwo remaining, marked positions. The position of the three markedpositions provides a recognizable, variable, specific pattern.

The structure illustrated in FIG. 5c further comprises adistance-adjusting element 90 to enable the one marked position 23 to beshifted relative to the two marked positions 23 configured such thatthey are constituted by a larger oval hole, meaning that the one markedposition can be adjusted away from or closer to the two remaining markedpositions in the shown embodiment.

Thus, three marked positions may be a combination of two markedpositions forming a fixed, specific pattern, and wherein the thirdmarked position is movable relative to the two others so that astructure (as illustrated in FIGS. 5b and 5c ) with three markedpositions can give a recognizable, but variable, specific pattern; egFIG. 5b shows a variable pattern with two points at fixed mutualdistance and a third position in a given radius compared to the pivotpoint of the position which, in the shown position, is not a markedposition, but rather a hinge, to the effect that the pivot point sits ata fixed distance from the two mutually fixed positions. The registrationof a given, specific pattern may thus be a statistic or dynamicconfiguration.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a structure in the form of a toy building element 20,shown in perspective view and from above, wherein the toy buildingelement 20 comprises a marked position 23 configured as a through-goinghole for positioning of a flexible unit.

Besides, the structure comprises a top side in the form of a slantingedge 25, a bottom side 28, outer periphery 29, a flange 26, and couplingmeans 21 in the form of coupling studs.

The method of providing input to an electronic unit 50 thus comprising,with reference to the figures, a touch-sensitive surface 60 which isconfigured for registering application of touch by a flexible unit 40,comprises the following steps: to provide a structure 1 configured froma material that cannot be registered by the touch-sensitive surface 60,and which structure 1 has a top side in the form of an edge 25, and abottom side 28 having an area that is smaller than the area of thetouch-sensitive surface 60, and wherein the area of the bottom side 28is delimited by an outer periphery 29 on the structure 1, and whereinthe structure 1 comprises, either at the periphery 29 or within theperiphery 29, at least one marked position 23, which position isconfigured with a view to the deployment of a flexible unit 40; toprovide one or more flexible units 40 that comprise(s) material that canbe registered by the touch-sensitive surface 60, wherein the one or moreflexible units 40 extend(s) past the top side of the structure 1 and tothe bottom side of the structure, to the effect that the registration ofa flexible unit 40 is conditioned by the configuration of the at leastone marked position 25; to deploy the structure 1 on the touch-sensitivesurface 60; to deploy the one or more flexible units 40 in the at leastone marked position 23 such that the touch-sensitive surface 60 iscapable of registering the position of the one or more flexible units40.

The electronic unit 50 comprises means to register the specific patternthat is formed by marked positions 23 with flexible units 40 that are incontact with the touch-sensitive surface 50.

Also, the electronic unit 50 is configured to recognize the registered,specific pattern when the one or more flexible units 40 move(s) acrossalong the touch-sensitive surface 60 whereby the structure 1 follows themovement across along the touch-sensitive surface 60; and to recognizethe registered, specific pattern; and to register the movement of thespecific pattern across along the touch-sensitive surface 60.

According to an embodiment of the method, the method comprises toprovide a structure 1 comprising at least two marked positions 23.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method furthercomprises to provide at least two structures 1 at the same time on thetouch-sensitive surface 60.

According to an embodiment of the method, the method comprises toprovide one or more flexible units 40 wherein the one or more flexibleunits is/are constituted by one or more fingertips.

The touch-sensitive surface comprises a multi-touch-functionalitywhereby the surface is capable of registering plural flexible units 40in simultaneous contact with the touch-sensitive surface 60.

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure 1 built from toy building elements, butit is possible to configure other constructions of a structure forexercising the method. For instance, a structure may also be configuredfrom a coherent material with one or more marked positions 23, and alsoa toy building element may comprise at least two marked positions 23.

The toy building elements 10, 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprisecomplementarily configured coupling means to the effect that the toybuilding elements can be interconnected. In the specific embodiment asshown in FIG. 1, the two types of toy building elements combine to forma plane bottom, and they combine to constitute the bottom side of thestructure 1. Thus, the structure has a plane bottom side and can bedeployed in a stable manner on the touch-sensitive surface.

The coupling means 21 can be configured as coupling studs andcomplementary coupling means.

As mentioned above, FIGS. 2 and 3 show a structure in the form of a toybuilding element 20. The toy building element 20 comprises a markedposition 23 configured as a through-going, circular hole for positioningof a flexible unit.

Also, the toy building element 20 comprises, at the periphery of thecircular, through-going hole, a top side in the form of a slanting edge25. The slanting edge slants downwards and inwards towards the middle ofthe hole's centre whereby an approximately frusto-conical hole is formedwith the smallest radius facing downwards towards the bottom side of thetoy building element, whereby a flexible unit can abut on the top sideof the structure on the slanging edges and may come into contact withthe touch-sensitive surface through the small radius when the structureis deployed on a touch-sensitive surface as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A marked position 23 should be configured such that a flexible unit isretained in a specific position relative to the structure and such thatthe structure follows the movement of a flexible unit.

A marked position 23 for positioning of flexible units 40 comprisesedges 25 such that a flexible unit 40 is prevented from moving relativeto the structure 1 in a plane in parallel with the touch-sensitivesurface 60 whereby, when one or more flexible units 40 is/are movedacross along the touch-sensitive surface 60, the structure 1 will followthe movement of the one or more flexible units 40.

According to an embodiment, one or more edges is/are arranged as aninner delimitation to the effect that the flexible units arerestricted/prevented from a movement in direction between the positions,meaning that the flexible units squeeze against each other on the edgesof the marked positions whereby the structure follows the movement ofthe flexible units across along the touch-sensitive surface.

According to a further embodiment, the one or more edges 25 is/arelocated as an outer delimitation to the effect that the flexible unitsare restricted/prevented from a movement in direction away from it/theremaining positions, meaning that the flexible units press away fromeach other on the edges of the positions whereby the structure followsthe movement of the flexible units 40 across along the touch-sensitivesurface 60.

The registered positions of the flexible units on the touch-sensitivesurface of the electronic unit combine to form a specific pattern, andthat specific pattern can be registered by the software for theelectronic unit 50. A specific pattern formed by the flexible units 40can define both a fixed mutual distance between the flexible units, andany mutual angles, but optionally also a variable, specific pattern,meaning where two or more marked positions are movable relative to eachother in a restricted movement.

When the flexible units 40 are registered on the touch-sensitivesurface, the software for the electronic unit 50 will generate anactivity and/or effect that correspond(s) to the registered pattern.When the structure 1 is moved with the fingers across thetouch-sensitive surface, the movement will likewise become registered onthe electronic unit 50, and the touch-sensitive surface 60 will performan activity and/or effect corresponding to the registered pattern andthe position and movements of the pattern performed by the flexibleunits 40.

The toy building element 20, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, further comprises abottom side 28, an outer periphery 29 and a flange 26 comprisingcoupling means.

The flange 26, in the embodiment shown in the figures, comprisescoupling studs on the top side of the flange and complementary couplingmeans on the bottom side whereby the flange is configured for couplingwith a toy building plate 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the effect thatthe bottom side 28 of the toy building element is in plane with thebottom side of the toy building plate whereby they combine to form thebottom side of the structure. The flange 26 enables the formation of astructure having a greater plane bottom side.

According to one embodiment, the marked positions may be constituted byone or more C- or U-shaped cut-outs and/or one or more through-goingholes. However, it should be possible to retain the flexible units in aconcrete pattern relative to the structure, while at the same time theycan be moved across the touch-sensitive surface and entrain thestructure at the same time, while simultaneously maintaining theconcrete pattern formed by the flexible units.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, only one marked position 23 is shown in the form of acircular, through-going hole. However, it will also be possible toconfigure a marked position in some other manner, eg as a largerthrough-going hole with room for plural flexible units, an elongate holewith two diametrically oppositely located positions which corresponds totwo combined U-shaped cut-outs (see FIG. 5c ). In case of a minimum oftwo marked positions, flexible units will still be guided in a specificposition, and, due to the configuration, the marked positions will alsohave significance to a specific pattern registered on thetouch-sensitive surface. Thus, positions define distance between theflexible units that are registered by the touch-sensitive surface.

FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic device 50 comprising a touch-sensitivesurface 60 in the form of a screen and a processor (CPU) 70, wherein theelectronic unit is configured for, via a structure 1 comprising a markedposition 23, converting a specifically registered pattern created by thestructure to an image on the touch-sensitive surface whereby thephysical structure with marked positions is registered on thetouch-sensitive, interactive surface and, via the software in theelectronic unit, can then execute the programmed effects by the presenceof the physical structure, to the effect that each specific patternprovides input and subsequent specific effect on the screen.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of providing input to anelectronic unit comprising a touch-sensitive surface that is configuredfor registering application of touch by a flexible unit, the methodcomprising: providing a structure configured from a material that cannotbe registered by the touch-sensitive surface having an area, thestructure having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side having anarea that is smaller than the area of the touch-sensitive surface,wherein the area of the bottom side is delimited by an outer peripheryon the structure, and wherein the structure comprises, either at theperiphery or within the periphery, two or more marked positions, each ofthe two or more marked positions configured for receiving andpositioning the flexible unit; deploying the structure at any positionon the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the structure is configured tobe slideable relative to said touch-sensitive surface; registering, bythe electronic unit, positions of two or more of flexible units receivedand positioned by the structure on the touch-sensitive surface anddeployed in the two or more marked positions of the structure;registering, by the electronic unit, movement of a specific pattern thatis formed by the two or more flexible units that are kept in a fixedinterrelationship; recognizing, by the electronic unit, the specificpattern; and converting, by the electronic unit, the specific pattern toan image on the touch-sensitive surface, the touch-sensitive surfacecomprising a screen.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising providing at least two structures for deployment on thetouch-sensitive surface.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereineach of the two or more flexible units is a fingertip.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the structure consists of a toy buildingset comprising at least two toy building blocks, wherein each toybuilding block of the at least two toy building blocks is provided withone or more complementarily configured coupling means to an effect thatthe at least two toy building blocks can be interconnected to form saidstructure, and wherein at least one of the at least two toy buildingblocks comprises the two or more marked positions for positioning of thetwo or more flexible units.
 5. The method according to claim 4, furthercomprising interconnecting the at least two building blocks prior todeploying the structure on the touch-sensitive surface.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein each toy building block of the at leasttwo toy building blocks comprises at least two different types ofcoupling means, wherein the at least two different types of couplingmeans comprises couplings studs and complementary couplings.
 7. Themethod according to claim 4, wherein the at least two toy buildingblocks are toy building plates.
 8. The method according to claim 7,wherein each toy building block of the at least two toy building blockscomprises a flange comprising coupling means, wherein the flange isconfigured for coupling with a toy building plate whereby a bottom sideof at least one toy building element is in plane with a bottom side ofthe toy building plate whereby they combine to form the bottom side ofthe structure.
 9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at leasttwo toy building blocks are hinged.
 10. The method according to claim 1,wherein the two or more marked positions are constituted by one or moreC- or U-shaped cut-outs and/or one or more through-going holes.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein each marked position of the two ormore marked positions for positioning of the two or more flexible unitscomprises one or more edges, whereby the two or more flexible units,when positioned in the two or more marked positions, are prevented frommoving relative to the structure in a plane in parallel with thetouch-sensitive surface to an effect that the structure will follow themovement of the specific pattern that is formed by the two or moreflexible units.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one ormore edges are arranged as an inner delimitation, thereby restrictingmovement of the two or more flexible units in direction between the twoor more marked positions, whereby the structure follows the movement ofthe specific pattern that is formed by the two or more flexible unitsrelative to the touch-sensitive surface.
 13. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the one or more edges are located as an outerdelimitation, thereby restricting movement of the two or more flexibleunits in direction away from remaining positions, whereby the structurefollows the movement of the specific pattern that is formed by the twoor more flexible units relative to the touch-sensitive surface.
 14. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein each marked position of the two ormore marked positions for positioning of the two or more flexible unitscomprises a surface, wherein the surface of each marked position isslanting to an effect that the two or more marked positions arefrusto-conically oriented with smallest radius facing downwards, wherebythe slanting surfaces can abut the two or more flexible units.
 15. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the two or more flexible units arekept in a fixed relationship relative to the touch-sensitive surface.16. A method of providing input to an electronic unit comprising atouch-sensitive surface that is configured for registering applicationof touch by a flexible unit, the method comprising: providing astructure configured from a material that cannot be registered by thetouch-sensitive surface, wherein the structure comprises two or moremarked positions, each of the two or more marked positions configuredfor receiving and positioning the flexible unit; deploying the structureat any position on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the structure isconfigured to be slideable relative to said touch-sensitive surface;registering, by the electronic unit, movement of a specific pattern thatis formed by two or more of the flexible units that are kept in a fixedinterrelationship by being deployed in the two or more marked positionsof the structure; recognizing, by the electronic unit, the specificpattern; and converting, by the electronic unit, the specific pattern toan image on the touch-sensitive surface, the touch-sensitive surfacecomprising a screen.